In the News
Does homework pass the test?
The debate has been raging for more than a century: is homework good or bad? Now, with evidence mounting against its effectiveness as a teaching and learning strategy, is it time Australian schools banned homework?
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Harris Cooper has probably done more research on homework than anyone else on the planet.
He concludes that homework:
* Has little if any homework in the early years
* Has a moderate impact in middle school
* Has a sizeable impact in senior school
With this in mind, banning homework across all year levels would be detrimental to students.
You can read his books/papers, or you can check out a summary at http://www.pinnacle.org.au/homework-make-worthwhile/ The summary also outlines how to go about setting worthwhile HW.
NB The summary reports on the average effect of HW across year levels – note that it is less in the early years and more in senior school.